Grandma’s Tapioca

Grandma’s Tapioca

My grandmother made tapioca often when I was growing up. To me this is pure comfort food! I love it best when it is warm but it is still good cold too. It seems to be a dessert that will go by the wayside because it is often hard to find the tapioca in a grocery store today unless you want the stuff in a box and I don’t.

Tapioca is so easy to make and has vanilla overtones the way I make it. Sometimes you can get the grocery store to order it for you if you ask. I found this tapioca at a bulk food store near me. You can also order it online from several places, just google it.

Add the tapioca, milk, salt and sugar to a double boiler. Stir to combine. Let cook for about 20 minutes or until you see the tapioca pearls start to get translucent.

Separate the eggs. Add the egg yolks to a small bowl. Beat with a fork. Add a little of the hot tapioca a tablespoon at a time to temper the egg yolks. Stir into the tapioca mixture. Stir the tapioca over the boiling water for about 5 minutes while it thickens. Stir in vanilla. Pour into an oven proof serving dish.

Beat egg whites until stiff. Add sugar. Beat until stiff peaks form. Spread over the tapioca pudding. Put the dish under a broiler that was pre-heated to high. Watch carefully. Remove when browned.